“No compromise on law and order, no charity shows,” Revanth tells Tollywood biggies

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday said that the state government will stand by the Telugu film industry but made it clear that there will be no compromise on law and order, public safety and law enforcement.

During his meeting with representatives of the Telugu film industry at the Police Integrated Command Control Center in Banjara Hills, Revanth Reddy reportedly reiterated that charity shows and ticket price hikes would no longer be allowed as such events often lead to overcrowding and security risks.

Official sources said the prime minister also strongly opposed the behavior of private security guards, commonly referred to as “bouncers”. The chief minister said the state government would deal decisively with “bouncers” hired by actors.

Revanth Reddy also said that celebrities need to control their fans and the industry needs to be responsible for it.

Discussions focused on pressing issues facing the film industry, including benefit shows, ticket price increases for benefit shows and the shows in the first week after the film’s release, and measures to ensure public safety at film-related events.

The meeting, which was attended by nearly 50 representatives from Tollywood, gained notoriety after a rush at the Sandhya Theater during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’. The tragic incident, which occurred earlier this month, left a woman dead and her son critically injured.

The meeting included the screening of a 10-minute video made by the police that showed CCTV footage of the December 4 stampede at the Sandhya Theatre.

The government defended its actions and stressed the importance of adhering to security protocols. Revanth Reddy expressed dismay at the inappropriate criticism of the police, particularly for refusing permission for the event.

The Prime Minister reportedly warned that event organizers and actors who employ bouncers would be held accountable for any wrongdoing. He stressed that actors and performers must avoid public roadshows unless specifically authorized by the police to prevent incidents like the Sandhya Theater stampede.

Revanth Reddy urged the film fraternity to actively participate in government campaigns on social issues like drug prevention and women safety. He also encouraged the industry to promote Telangana’s initiatives including eco-tourism and temple tourism.

Despite the firm stance, the Prime Minister assured the delegation of government’s cooperation in addressing the industry’s concerns. He proposed the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the challenges faced by the Telugu film industry with emphasis on long-term solutions.

He put forward ambitious plans to take the Telugu film industry to a new level. The Prime Minister highlighted the Congress government’s commitment to promoting the film sector and equated its importance with that of the IT and pharmaceutical industries.

“Our main aim is to take the film industry to the next level. The government has decided to rebrand the Telugu film industry and ensure its prosperity,” the chief minister said.

He highlighted the state government’s determination to transform Hyderabad into a global cinema hub by attracting Bollywood and even Hollywood productions to the city.

Steps are underway to organize large-scale conferences aimed at attracting other film industries to Hyderabad. These events will highlight the city’s advantages as a film location and promote cross-industry collaboration, he said.

Revanth Reddy called Hyderabad the best of all cosmopolitan cities and asserted that the government is taking steps to enhance the city’s attractiveness as a film production hub.

Actors and producers expressed their condolences to the victims of the stampede and acknowledged the need for better planning and cooperation with authorities. Actor Murali Mohan expressed the industry’s pain over the loss of life and said, “We are deeply hurt and will work to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.”

Speaking to the media later, Telangana Film Development Corporation Chairman Dil Raju said issues like allowing benefit shows and ticket price hikes were insignificant compared to the Prime Minister’s vision of taking Telugu cinema to the global stage.

“These little things like fundraisers and ticket prices don’t matter. Nearly 200 Telugu films are released every year. The Telugu film industry and the government will work together to bring Telugu cinema to the world stage. This is a big responsibility that the Prime Minister has given us,” he said.

The delegation comprised actors Akkineni Nagarjuna, Daggubati Venkatesh, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej and Ram Pothineni, producers Allu Aravind, D Suresh Babu, KL Narayana and Sudhakar Reddy and directors Trivikram Srinivas, Boyapati Srinu and K Raghavendra Rao .

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and DGP Dr. Jithenders from Telangana were also present.